[Structural observation of the anterior chamber angle in CYP1B1-null mice].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of CYP1B1 gene on the structure of anterior chamber angle in mice.


METHODS
It is experimental study. Adult CYP1B1-null mice were used, in comparison C57BL/6J mice was used as control. The mice eyes were enucleated and plastic-embedded and the anterior chamber angle were sagittally sectioned in 3 micrometers thickness. The morphology and structure of the eye tissues was studied by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.


RESULTS
The anterior chamber angle in C57BL/6J mice were well developed. But in CYP1B1-null mice, a variety of anomalies were found in the these tissues, including hypoplastic and compressed trabecular meshwork, abnormal structure of trabecular cells, a basal lamina extending from cornea over the meshwork, small or absent Schlemm's canal, and long iris process extending from the iris root to the trabecular meshwork. These pathological changes was demonstrated focally and the rest of the angle in CYP1B1-null were normal.


CONCLUSIONS
CYP1B1 gene plays an important role in the development of the anterior chamber angle. Deletion of this gene leads to the abnormalities in trabecular meshwork, Schlemm's canal and iris process, which may have some influence on the metabolism and function of the outflow facilities.
Jiang
Fa-gang
FG
Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China. fgjiang@hotmail.com
Cui
Ling
L
Liu
Xiao-wen
XW
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000473:pathology*; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics*; D065633:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1; D017353:Gene Deletion; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008819:Mice, Nude
D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C585498:Cyp1b1 protein, mouse; D065633:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1